2013 thus far

There has been a long hiatus here, partly do to the hectic schedule.  The main reason was the technical difficulties.  At some point I couldn't access my gmail and therefore couldn't access my blog (new computer doesn't remember old passwords).  I would spend a couple days on it, give up and get busy.  then a month or so later I would try again.  This last attempt had left me tired and frustrated.  Gmail would tell me someone else allready had that gmail account......Yes, it is MINE.  I thought I  would have my kids mess with it a bit, but this morning I just tried one more time.  When I logged in in told me the password had been changed, I tried what I thought might be the new password and Eureka, I'm into my gmail and my blog.  The funny thing about the Blog was Gmail would send the info about it to my Gmail account, the one I couldn't get into.  All is saved now on my computer.  Happy day, I can now post and discuss my projects from this past year.

Merry Christmas Everyone.  December leaves finds me caught up.  Where in the world did 2012 go, we have survived 2 high level graduations. 2 major surgeries lots of extra chores.  But all in all very blessed.  

Funny stories this year, and sad ones.

This story, from September

Well, today I needed to take my mom to the bank, for an appt.

she had called at noon to tell me she was dressed and ready.  "I'll be there at 1:30, mom, appts. at two
 (5 min away).

I will preface this by saying it is common for R & C to leave their keys in the car (locked in the garage).

We got to the car and mom got in  so far so good. I got the wheel chair loaded and shut the hatch.  Next I went around to the passenger side to shut mom's door.  That is when it struck me (I must have subconsciously heard the lock get hit by mistake).

Yes, mom was locked in the car with the keys on the floor of the driver's side.  Simple enough, right.  Well the controls on the driver's side are different than the passenger side and I sit in the driver's side in the car. 

OK mom, unlock it.......

I don't know how

push that button

I can't hear you

push the button

which one

2 (holding up 2 fingers for the second button)

she pushes it and it makes a noise (there she says) but alas she has pushed the "lock" side of that button

the other side mom

to that she keeps pushing the wrong side

ok mom lets try this

see the handle (I shout), with that she begins trying to yank it off

no no no above it there is another lock fiddle with that

mom still trying to yank off the handle

just a minute I say

We continued this survivor challenge for almost 10 minutes pass and I call home (mike answers; unable to drive) thankfully Daniel is home and comes with the extra set of keys (2 minutes)

unlocks the door and waits til I get into the car

to which mom says,

How did you get it unlocked from the trunk

I explained the extra keys

to that she says

"what would you have done if your 4 year old locked themselves in"

I only thought, I never locked my kids and keys in the car and my 4 yr. olds all knew how to get out of a car.  We just made it to the appt. on time and I needed a stiff drink.

Yet another chapter of "Life with Mother".

 

And then another story, from a week before Christmas.

Today, a bright and sunny one to be sure.  Mike had PT appointments and my chores and errands are under control.  I hit the road to go and see Aunt Phyllis.

Gord had told me that she was declining and it was hard to watch.  My thoughts had been about her for a couple weeks, so with great weather in December I set out.

When I arrived in her room, she was asleep.  Standing quietly watching for a bit noticing the extreme decline from a few months ago.  Noticing her resemblance to those who have passed. 

After a bit, I called sweetly, Aunt Phyllis Dear.  Phyllis.....after a bit Sweetie, Phyllis... touching her shoulder.  Frail.  Returning to the foot of the bed calling out gently once again...Phyllis, softly rubbing her feet. No response.

At times she looked laboring, hooked up to the oxygen, brows furrowed.  Then at times her expression would change as if she were intent on the person speaking to her in her dreams.  It was definitely someone she loved.  

Standing in that room with the memories of the wonderful woman she is.  An aide appeared and I stated that I had not been there in a while and how long had she been like this.  A couple days.  Still no stir from Aunt Phyllis, content in her dreams.

I hope that I can get back soon and that it will be an "up" day.

Leaving a short note, a plate of cookies I had to get back to Jackson.  This week I will send a card and some Pictures.  There are pictures of her great grands and a beautiful pic of Cheri and Family.

In closing, let it be said that she is in a wonderful place, very clean and cheerful with happy employees. Her room has a pretty bedspread and cute blankets and several teddy bears.

There is no expectation in this letter, it is simply to keep you informed and it needed to be a story not merely a statement.

If you feel like praying, pray for a lovely lady.

 

Peace to you and yours.  

 

Yesterday I received word from my Cousin that his mother has remained 

 

unresponsive for an entire week.  My Dear Aunt Phyllis will be with the Her Creator and His Angels soon.

 

Long time no post.

Well, it has been over a year since I have posted to this blog.  Many things have happened.  Mike chose leg amputation to help with the chronic pain he endures. Our gardens are up and growing, the lawn is in.  Our baby received her bachelors degree and is looking at furthering her education.  Our oldest son and his wife have received their doctoral degrees in Economics and are gainfully employed.  Our middle child took a year off from the rat race to pursue his dream of competing in the Olympic Trials for 2012.  He will race Thursday night, Dream Big!  I have sewn a little this year, changing my focus from quilts to home dec and fashion.  I have also taken on the challenge of altering a few pieces of formal wear.

Mike's recovery is ongoing, there is a whole new way to live when you have a prosthetic. We are both adjusting to this chapter of our lives.  Our pups are great companions and therapy, we don't know what we would do without them.

My camera is out of order for a few days, its battery and charger took a trip to the Olympic trials in Oregon.  When it returns, I will give you a go around the yard and all the changes.

LET'S SIT AND WATCH THE GRASS GROW

The first Bake.

Chocolate chunk cookies.

Preparing for the new walk.

 It has been a few weeks since I have posted.  The end project saw the workers leaving and spring and yard work for us.

There are no pics of our landscaping of the front and back yards.  We were too busy and tired trying to get it done between the 6" above normal rainfall this spring.

The landscaping is completed for this season, we are just fussing now with grass seed and getting the damaged portions of the yard back.  The best thing for that is the irrigation system ;-)

Digging for the drive and walk.

Staking out the deck.

Make way for a new walk.

A little bit to the east.

Framing of the deck.

Deck, view 2

The cement is in, then rain rain rain.

Finally parking in the garage.

Landscaping, whew!

Magnolia in full bloom.

Deck in progress.

Deck, finished.

View of deck from the hill.

Peony's in bloom.

MOVING ALONG...

You have noticed there haven't been postings for more than a month.

February 25^th was the long awaited “walk through” of the completed addition.  Everything is complete except the granite and sinks attached thereto. The crew will come back in at that point for a few small items.  As I was called in to work today, I will miss this momentous occasion.  But I will surely be in attendance of the “big move”.  The last two weeks, I have been dedication an hour or more daily to getting things moved into their new space.  Obviously, while construction is going on there are limitations to what and where we can move things.  The half-bath and foyer is cleaned, moved and pictures are on the wall.  The upper cupboards are loaded and about half of the lowers are loaded.

This evening I plan on bringing all the coats and accessories down to the closets.  I will retain the “mini kitchen” in the laundry area until the granite is installed in the kitchen.  We should have the stove, dishwasher and microwave operational by this evening…..cooking again.

The sun porch, has some of the furniture in it; K and I moved those items last Sunday, during that white-out storm.  R has begun bringing his “office” up stairs to his new digs.  We are both sorting through the items stored in the basement, getting them in a logical order.  It doesn’t seem like we would have had much work in the basement but we had to empty the utility area so the plumbers and electricians could get to the utilities, leaving us with a perfect opportunity to reorganize.

Another project on the list is emptying the attic, all the holiday items will be sorted, labeled and moved to our new “walk-down” basement attic.  The plan is to use our empty bedroom to sort and label then move the items to the basement for easier access.

In the “fun” project category, the duvet and bed skirt are on the dining room table, awaiting my attention, these will be completed before we move downstairs.  Of course the blinds need to be ordered. I wonder what drop cloths would look like, tacked to the new windows.

It will only take a couple weeks to get all these things done. By then spring may be here and the crew will return to complete the exterior portion, deck and driveway.  We will no longer have the river Nile at the end of our driveway, just imagine the possibilities.  

FAST FORWARD to April 7, 2011.

HAHAHA, remember those famous words "it will only take a couple weeks to get these things done".  Well here we are, still plugging away at them.  This is a good time to share some "final pics".  Next week we begin Phase II, the driveway and the deck, hopefully in time for some great weather.

Front Closet 1/2 the size.

Beginnings of the SunRoom.

First steps into the shower.

Shower area.

Long awaited border tile.

View of the Vanity.

Filling up the Easy Closet.

Bed Skirt in process.

Thank goodness for the ruffling attachment.

Moving of the attic, in progress.

20+ years of attic "stuff" to sort through.

Sorting and identifying.

You have to admire telephone men.

First piece of granite.

Granite in progress.

Granite with splash.

The last big piece.

This was the most beautiful morning so far in 2011.

The audio from this view was spectacular.

Beauty of nature.

The above few pics encompass the foundation and gardens of our house.  During the next few months these will also be changed.

Next post, I'll include finished pics of kitchen and bedroom  (crisp and clear pics ;-).  Also, the bedrooms upstairs are set up, cleaned, and ready for any visiting friends and family.

The Completion is near.

Template materials

Daytime in the kitchen.

Installing of hood vent.

Just a few Easy Closet Boxes.

A few comments on the appliances, the washer, dryer and microwave are just fabulous.  The Refrigerator, there are not enough word to say how nicely it is designed  The stove is not hooked up yet, but the manual leaves me chomping at the bit to use it.  I cannot wait to prepare a homecooked meal and bake in that fabulous oven.  Cookies anyone, it seems that it can easily handle 4 cookie sheets at once baked perfectly with the convection feature, time will tell.  The crew was obviously disappointed when the electrician had to leave earlier in the week, before he could hook up the oven.

Bring in that range.

In place but not hooked up.

Crew preparing to install Fridge.

Windows going in.

It has been a busy and productive week.  Final bullet lists have been made and finishing touches have begun. Everything is so very beautiful.  Not to many hitches, they are easy to get over.  As I write, we are awaiting the electrician to finish up, dishwasher to be installed, finish crown moulding in kitchen and grout on the bath border tile.

Last Sunday, my sister and I made a trip to the storage unit, a typical gray February day, but two hours later, when we met, there was a couple inches of snow on the ground and it was snowing at a ridiculous pace.  We quickly loaded what we could and made a single trip home, it was quite slippery out.  next post I'll show the beginnings of the porch.

The week has been snow/ice on the roads, packed and frozen down, and tonight overnight there will be yet some further precipatation.  Overall, not a bad winter, although the 1/4 inch of ice on Monday morning was a bit of a pain, especially for commuters.

Building a template.

The template making was an interesting process.  I envisioned paper, plastic but they use balsa wood, glueing the wood in place in a grid, very sturdy and portable.

Cupboards with lower trim and task lighting.

Weekend project "Easy Closets"

The task lighting is great, no more being unable to see in the kitchen.  Everyone home helped with the Easy Closets; D carried them in for me, (shelves are quite hefty); R put in the cams and completed the hamper unit; I placed the horizontal shelving.  Saturday evening I put in the stablezing cam shelves and Sunday I finished up with the rods and adjustable shelving.  Next post I'll show the completed project.  The lighting is not quite finished and pictures need to be taken early in the day.

Closet vertical elements.

Yes, they all fit.

 The uppers are a bit higher that the old ones and after adding the spices I found that I couldn't see to read them easily.   My dear friend MJ recently redid her kitchen, and used plain drawer for her spices (alphabetical of course).  With this in mind I placed all our small spices n a drawer to determine if they would fit.  Great news they will fit.  I will alphabetize them (by size) once the granite is installed.

Evening view with ambient lighting.

 Just wanted to show the cabinets in the evening and the daylight.  They are an antiqued white, rather classic country french look.  This is going to be a very excellent kitchen to work in.

Kitchen in the daylight.

Border tile in the bathroom.

That crazy border tile came in yesterday, and the crew began on it right away.  It came air freight from Italy (the salesperson never mentioned this, I may have chosen differently if she had.

Sight unseen is the cupboards are pretty well loaded, we are gaining room in the living and dining rooms.  Our focus now is reorganizing the basement and preparing to move R's office to his new digs.  After that, the attic will be relocated to the easier accessed basement. Finally my design area in the basement.  When and while that occurs, the bedrooms will be moved and reorganized, so once again, after many years I will have a dedicated sewing room.  Each of our children will have a bedroom to their selves with their spouses and future families.  The main floor will afford plenty of room for family gatherings.